From the Blog

Sun, Sea, Sand and Golf

Holidays in the Seychelles is generally all about sun, sea and sand, but did you know that we also have two fantastic golf courses that are making the Seychelles a great golfing destination as well?

The main island of Mahe boasts “The Seychelles Golf Club”, a challenging nine-hole course located in the picturesque southern region of the Island, with the second a championship 18-hole course designed by Rodney Wright and Marc Farry located on the island of Praslin at the famed “Constance Lemuria Resort”.

The Seychelles Golf Club, Mahe

The Seychelles Golf Club, formerly Le Reef Hotel and Golf Club, is the only golf course on the main island of Mahe. It is on the south-eastern coast of the island at Anse aux Pins about a 10 minute drive from the Seychelles International Airport. The course was built on an old coconut plantation about 30 years ago and is surrounded by verdant hills. In 2003, the Reef Hotel and Golf Club won the Indian Ocean’s Leading Golf Resort award from the World Travel Awards.

Considered a challenging course, it is 4,992 yards with nine holes at par 68. The course lacks roll, which is part of the reason it is considered a challenging course. The holes can be repeated over the back nine with different tee-boxes played on the same greens and pin positions. The 17th hole is the signature hole with 308 yard par four.

The Seychelles Golf Club course was built in 1980, and some of the fairways are very narrow and bordered by coconut palms, takamaka and casuarina trees as well as a mangrove marsh. The course is part of a wildlife sanctuary where rare migratory birds are regularly seen. There are also red crabs living in some of the hazards and they like to grab golf balls and make a dash for it.

The Seychelles Golf Club is open all year and has a clubhouse with a bar, pool table and a cafeteria restaurant that serves snacks, fast food and full meals. It is not necessary to book tee times except on Thursday afternoons and Saturdays, which are reserved for sponsored competitions. You will often find the Le Nautique Seychelles boys down at the club on these days vying for the weekly prize.

Visitors are welcome to the club and also welcome to participate in the sponsored competitions if they bring a valid certificate from their home club with an acceptable handicap. If visitors do not have this document with them, they may still participate in the competition but would not be eligible to win a prize.

This golf club uses the Northern Systems golf handicap for members. New members may apply to the handicap sub-committee for a handicap if they give three cards for 18 holes that are marked by a member who has a valid current handicap.

Professional golf lessons are available on request and golf clubs as well as trolleys are available for hire… or you could just tag along for a game with Stuart or Will …. any excuse for these two to hit the greens!

Constance Lemuria Resort, Praslin

The Constance Lemuria Resort is home to the championship par 70 18-hole golf course, which was built in 2000. It is a five star resort facility with a spa and wellness centre and is equal to any luxury golf holiday destination in the world. It is on the north-west coast of the island of Praslin at Anse Kerlan.

The Resort is a five minute drive from the Praslin Airport. The 6,105 yards course winds its way along the coastline near the turquoise ocean and was carved through tropical woodland. It has spectacular views of three beaches and beautifully terraced greens. People staying on Mahe or other islands can visit the Lemuria Golf Course for a day trip.

The course is considered a tough challenge for any level of golfer because of the elevated tees, water hazards and wide fairways. The Seychelles Pro-am is held at the resort every year, and many players say that this course offers perfection for playing golf in the Seychelles.

The first 12 holes are lined with palm trees, but, beginning at the 13th hole, the course becomes a great challenge. The course has steep slopes with thick forest and spectacular views. The 15th hole is extraordinary. The tees are perched high on a rocky ridge which offers spectacular views and golfers may wonder where the green is located. There is an astonishing 54 yard drop to the green in the valley below from the men’s tee.

The 15th hole is near the famous Anse Georgette beach and a small mangrove marsh. The hole is deceptively short and considered suitable for a wedge shot or an easy 9-iron. It’s not easy to land the ball on the green from the tee and is a shot that will not be soon forgotten. After the 15th hole there is refreshment offered in a bar and restaurant, and there is also a boutique.

There is no green fee for guests of the resort and golf equipment is available for hire. The use of club cars is mandatory because of the difficult terrain and they are also available for hire.

Visitors should call in advance to reserve a tee time and ask about the green fees. The Lemuria offers golf lessons and caddy players. There are three tee scorecards including Blue at par 70 for 6,076 yards in length, White at par 70 for 5,633 yards in length and Gold at par 70 for 5,300 yards in length.

So as you can see there is a lot more to the Seychelles that just sun, sea and sand, so why don’t you join us to explore all that these magical islands have to offer.

Ps) Big thumbs up to “So Seychelles” for providing information on these two fantastic courses.